College Notebook: Hornets honor former hoop standout Kendall Gray

Kendall Gray was back in Dover last week as the former Polytech High and Delaware State University standout was honored in front of the DSU home crowd.

A banner commemorating Gray’s senior season was raised. Gray won the MidEastern Athletic Conference’s Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards during the 2014-2015 season.

“It’s a special feeling looking up there,” Gray said. “My name is up there right next to the rest of the greats. It’s something I’ll never forget.”

The banner is next to banners for DSU’s postseason tournament appearances, conference champions and one for former coach Greg Jackson and player Jahsha Bluntt, who each won a conference Coach of the Year award and Player of the Year award, respectively.

Gray, Bluntt and Tom Davis are the only Hornets to win the MEAC Player of the Year award. Gray is only the second player in conference history who won both the Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same year, after Norfolk State’s Kyle O’Quinn, who now plays for the New York Knicks.

It was one of the first times since graduation Gray was able to return to Delaware State. Gray has spent the last two years playing professionally in Europe.

After going undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft, Gray had a stint in the NBA’s Summer League before signing with Medi Bayreuth in Germany. Gray played this past season for MKS Dabrowa Górnicza of the top division in Poland.

He has returned stateside after the completion of the season to begin to rehab while eying another professional contract.

“I’m trying to focus on furthering my career,” Gray said.

Gray finished second in the country in rebounds per game as a senior at DSU and also recorded a 30-point, 30-rebound performance that season against Coppin State. He helped lead the Hornets to a berth in the MEAC Championship game.

Rounding it up

• Juwan Gray, Kendall Gray’s younger brother and another Polytech High grad, is averaging 8.2 points and 6.3 rebounds a game as a freshman for San Diego. Gray and San Diego play at No. 4 Gonzaga on Thursday at 9 p.m. on ESPN3.

• Sussex Tech product Kevin Larkin has appeared in 10 games this season for Niagara and has scored 17 points while grabbing 20 rebounds.

• Altia Anderson, last year’s girls’ basketball Player of the Year out of Woodbridge, has played in 13 games as a true freshman at Marquette and has netted 17 total points.

• The University of Delaware women’s athletic program is ranked ninth in the Capital One Cup standings. The award ranks Division I men’s and women’s programs based on their on-field accomplishments. The Blue Hens got a big boost from their national championship in field hockey.

• The Delaware State men’s basketball team is 339th in the nation of 347 Division I teams in rebounding margin.

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